Guide to growing garden plants - Convolvulus (Silverbush)
Plants from the Convolvulus genus are hardy annual or hardy perennial vines.
They have heart shaped leaves, some varieties flower but for one day, with trumpet flowers (can be blue, white, pink or purple).
Many gardeners consider most Convolvulus plants to be weeds. Though some species of Convolvulus such as Silverbush and Dwarf morning glory are grown.
The annual varieties of Convolvulus flower from summer to autumn, whereas the perennials flower in the summer.
Convolvulus arvensis - Field Bindweed by Phil Sellen; Creative commons.
Convolvulus sepium - Hedge Bindweed by Gmayfield10; Creative commons.
Quick Convolvulus Growing Guide and Facts
Common Names: Bindweed, Morning Glory, Aguinaldo Blanco, Scammony, Convolvulus. Bindweed: Soft; Texas; Pygmy; Shruby; Grey; Field; Mallow. Morning Glory: Dwarf; Ground; Japanese.
Life Cycle: Hardy annual. Hardy perennial.
Height: 12 to 144 inches (30 to 360 cm).
Native: Temperate regions.
Growing Region: Zones 3 to 9: Perennials 7 to 9.
Flowers: Late spring to early winter.
Flower Details: White, pink, yellow, blue violet, purple. Trumpet-shaped.
Foliage: Heart shaped leaves (Cordate). Spirally arranged. Sometimes variegated. Sometimes evergreen.
Sow Outside: 1/8 inch (3mm). Mid-spring; temperature should not drop below 50°F (10°C). Spacing: small 6 inches to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm); large 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 cm).
Sow Inside: Chip seeds. Soak overnight. Use Peat pots. Germination time: four days to two weeks. Temperature 75°F (24°C). Six weeks before expected last frost. Transplant outdoors in mid spring; temperature should not drop below 50°F (10°C).
Requirements: Full sunlight. Good drainage. Soil pH 6 to 8. Regular watering. It may be necessary to trim leaves to display flowers. Propagate: cutting in summer.
Miscellaneous: Large genus of shrubs, bines and vines. This means that some are treasured, some are weeds, and others still are threatened.
How to grow Silverbush
If planning to grow Convolvulus outside from seed then they should be planted at a depth of 3mm into a sunny part of the garden in the middle of spring. Germination takes about one to two weeks. If growing Silverbush or other Convolvulus plants indoors, then the seed should first be chipped with a knife and soaked in warm water for a full day beforehand. They should be planted into peat pots in an area with a temperature of 22 to 28 degrees centigrade about two months before putting out.
Caring for Convolvulus
The seedlings of small species of Convolvulus should then be transplanted outdoors after the last frost of spring. If you require more plants then cuttings of Convolvulus can be took in the summer.